Schools · Valley-wide
Las Vegas nonprofit's Med-Path platform connects Clark County classrooms with health care professionals
Las Vegas HEALS launched Med-Path in August so Clark County teachers can request health care professionals for class visits and tours, an effort tied to Nevada's ranking near the bottom for physician supply.
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What happened
A Las Vegas nonprofit has built an online tool meant to put Clark County students in front of people who work in health care. KTNV reported that Las Vegas HEALS created Med-Path, a platform that links Clark County teachers with health care professionals who can talk with students about their jobs and the careers available in the field.
According to KTNV, the goal is to help students find career paths they may not have thought about and to build interest in the state's future health care workforce. The platform launched in August.
How Med-Path works
Teachers use the platform to request professionals for their classes, KTNV reported. The visits can take several forms, and the professionals come from a range of specialties so students see more than the familiar roles of doctors and nurses.
What teachers can request
- Classroom visits from health care professionals
- Hospital tours
- Hands-on learning experiences
Who is on the platform
Diego Trujillo, CEO of Las Vegas HEALS, told KTNV that the platform includes professionals ranging from cosmetic surgeons and primary care doctors to end-of-life doulas. He said more are being added. Trujillo said one challenge is that students may not know how many different career options exist in health care.
Why the nonprofit says it matters
KTNV reported that Nevada ranks among the lowest in the nation for its supply of physicians. The station cited a 2023 report from the Nevada Health Workforce Research Center, based on 2021 data, that placed Nevada 45th nationally for active physicians per capita.
The state rankings
The same report ranked Nevada 48th for primary care physicians and 49th for general surgeons, according to KTNV. Trujillo also described the size of the gap. "We have 27,000 healthcare workers short in the state of Nevada for us to meet the national average," he told the station. KTNV noted that figure is Trujillo's own estimate of the state's workforce gap.
A teacher's view
Jennaya Fernane, a physical education teacher at the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts Performing Arts Center, told KTNV she is excited about what the platform can offer. "They get some medical experience before they even get out of high school, which I think is just amazing," she said.
A personal connection
The program also matters to Fernane at home. Her daughter, Samantha, is a high school junior exploring sports medicine, and Fernane said her daughter is growing more interested in pursuing the field as a career.
Fernane said Med-Path also lets students build professional connections and learn about options they might not otherwise hear about. She told KTNV those connections can be especially valuable for students who do not have a family member who can guide them through career decisions. Readers following local student career and STEM efforts can find more coverage in our schools section, including a recent story on East Las Vegas students who produced a Spanish STEM audiobook.
How teachers can get involved
KTNV reported that teachers can learn more about Med-Path at medpath.healsfoundation.org. The platform is open to Clark County teachers who want to request visits, tours or hands-on experiences for their students.
What to watch next
- Trujillo said more health care professionals are being added to the Med-Path platform.
- Clark County teachers can request classroom visits, hospital tours and hands-on learning through medpath.healsfoundation.org.